Latest / The Art of Costume Podcast / West Side Story

Transcript

West Side Story · The Art of Costume Podcast

0:12
When the heel got out of bed for a second and I was like, that
0:15
doesn't look like his bedroom. And then she said, I felt like,
0:20
what I mean. Oh, I had a conversation about
0:24
it. But like I'm sorry, you know,
0:27
I've had people break up with me for less than that.
0:45
Glass and I'm Spencer Williams. Hello Elizabeth.
0:49
Hey Spencer, what's going on taxes?
0:54
Oh, that was not what I thought you're gonna say how to deal
0:58
with that today. Taxes, I did one hour.
1:02
I actually like doing taxes. Is that weird?
1:05
I didn't come from two different states.
1:07
So that wasn't fun. That'll do it.
1:10
Wait. How many states do you live in?
1:13
I live in Juan, but my, the full time job that I just quit was in
1:18
Delaware. Oh, really?
1:21
Yeah. Because I live in Pennsylvania,
1:22
but it's like Like 15-20 minutes to Delaware.
1:26
It's not that long. Oh, I didn't know that.
1:29
Wow. We're still learning so much
1:30
about each other. Yeah, I worked in Wilmington.
1:35
I would pass by Biden's house all the time.
1:37
That's how you can tell if he won't hear if he was home,
1:40
because there was like extra security on the route.
1:44
How did I not know this? I don't know, probably just
1:46
didn't talk about it. I've just been you know hanging
1:52
out watching lots of Peacemaker, I'm still really obsessed with
1:56
that show. So going into what we're about
2:00
to talk about. Feels like a whole different
2:03
world. I know I started out yesterday.
2:07
First. I was watching the the secrets
2:11
of Playboy. Okay, the, the TV show all
2:15
about, like, the behind the scenes of what was going on
2:17
with, like, Hugh Hefner and like The Playmates at the Playboy
2:22
Mansion, right? So I start out That I watching
2:24
that then I started watching the first episode of Pam and Tommy
2:30
and I was like, well, I guess I'll watch West Side Story now
2:37
what a weird twist. Yeah.
2:40
I feel the same way. I was watching The Hobbit Lord
2:44
of the Rings Peacemaker. And I was like, well time to
2:46
watch West Side Story. We're going to a rumble or go
2:51
into a rumble or go into a rumble.
2:54
I'm ready. Okay, I'm glad you're ready.
3:00
Elizabeth has taxes, brain. I have to bring her back to
3:03
life. I know.
3:04
I do. I, we had problems.
3:06
I had to like, pay TurboTax more money to actually talk to a
3:09
person. Oh, no, it was a whole thing.
3:12
It was a whole thing, but it's over.
3:14
Now. It's over now and we watched
3:16
West Side, Story West Side Story.
3:20
How exciting. No.
3:22
Hey Oscar nominee, and off. Oscar nominee, I've never seen
3:26
West Side Story before on stage or the original movie.
3:31
Oh my God. So all I knew is that it was
3:33
based off Romeo and Juliet, which I think I shared my
3:36
opinions about Romeo and Juliet before Elizabeth's.
3:41
Not a fan of the Romeo and Juliet story.
3:44
I'm not. But um, I liked the Romeo and
3:47
Juliet story better in this context than just the Romeo and
3:52
Juliet story. I've seen West Side Story a
3:56
couple times and I don't know how I forgot how the film ended
4:01
like, why am I still shocked? Right now?
4:03
I seen it multiple times. I am out of those funny cuz like
4:12
I hadn't heard a bunch of the songs and stuff, like all out of
4:14
context. Like I had no idea.
4:17
I feel pretty was from West Side Story.
4:20
I had no idea and then her monologue at the end.
4:24
Ends with the gun, like, I hurt, like an acting classes.
4:28
Like that's like one of the like, monologues you learn,
4:32
right? Is that final monologue of hers?
4:35
And I was like, huh? That's what this was from West
4:38
Side. Story is a staple so we should
4:40
just jump into this because I'm really excited.
4:43
Yeah, give us that summary. All right, one adaptation of the
4:47
1957 musical West Side Story. Explores Forbidden Love and a
4:52
rivalry between a And the Sharks two teenage street gangs of
4:58
different ethnic backgrounds. I've been going back and forth
5:01
on this. I didn't think they're
5:02
teenagers. Not teenagers.
5:03
They're young adults. Literally everywhere.
5:06
I'm going. It's saying teenage though.
5:08
So, I don't know. I think maybe the Jets are
5:11
teenagers. But if they're trying to save a
5:14
shark sir teenager, I don't know Elizabeth, I think so like the
5:19
sharks are like young like people like their 20s, early
5:23
20s, and then I think, The Jets are mostly guys in their early
5:27
20s and then like some teenage boys.
5:32
I hope so all the descriptions. I keep reading keep saying
5:35
teenage stuff because otherwise this is just like far more
5:38
concerning. Well, if you're all listening,
5:44
please let us know. Are we talking about children
5:48
right now or what's his name? Bernardo's definitely like 20,
5:57
something. They're trying to say.
5:58
He's a teenager. Like, I don't, I don't believe
6:01
here. I don't know either, but that's
6:07
besides the point. Let's get into some behind the
6:09
Wardrobe, a fast size the point. Because the Wardrobe of this was
6:14
phenomenal. Yes, going behind the Wardrobe.
6:17
We have director, Steven Spielberg.
6:20
Wow, our first Spielberg, our first Spielberg known for many.
6:24
Amazing films, that fill our childhoods and costume designer,
6:28
Paul Tazewell. Yes, Paul.
6:31
Yes. Well, that's man, his notable
6:33
works, are the cut out the color purple stage play The Immortal.
6:39
Life of Henrietta Lacks The Wiz live for which he received a
6:45
Emmy win in 2015. Jesus Christ, Superstar live in
6:50
concert for which he got a Emmy nomination in.
6:54
Teen and our favorite Hamilton for which he won a Tony, of
7:01
course. I mean, this guy is the man he
7:04
brought Hamilton. Why haven't we done Hamilton on
7:06
his podcast? We we need to do.
7:08
He need to do that at some point.
7:10
We're going to talk about that after he also did Harriet, which
7:13
I almost forgot about. Yeah.
7:15
What's that's a great film. I mean, Paul tassels the man, he
7:18
is just the best. I love him so much.
7:21
He's also a super sweet kind guy.
7:24
Why? So he seems that I watched some
7:26
of the interviews he did and he just seems very very genuine.
7:30
And I love that. He designed the Wardrobe from a
7:33
very genuine spy. He was really looking to create
7:38
a authentic depiction of the 1950s New York.
7:45
He said and interviews with LA Times that he was thinking of
7:51
the contrast and aspiration for the different communities.
7:54
With the Latin X Community, they are dressing more consciously
7:58
fashion forward than the Jets are the sharks have to try
8:02
harder. That is part of feeling like an
8:05
outsider in America. You try harder to represent
8:08
yourself to be as put together as possible.
8:12
So you Garner respect. So he was really like trying to
8:17
convey what these individuals one out of their life.
8:21
And for the Jets. He really took inspiration from
8:27
Bruce Davidson's, photos of gangs in the 1950s, which I had
8:32
not heard of this photographer before.
8:34
But wow, his photographs are beautiful and I understand why
8:40
he took inspiration for the Jets.
8:42
It's like exactly how these kids were dressing.
8:46
Yeah, beautiful photographs. I kind of thought when you put
8:49
these up that they were photos from like the original West Side
8:52
Story or something. So that's Very cool.
8:55
Yeah, and the these are the points he was starting from very
9:00
authentic. Depiction of you know, the Jets
9:04
gang from the 1950s and trying to convey that aspiration of the
9:09
Latin X community. And those are our behind the
9:12
Wardrobe facts. Spencer.
9:14
Are you ready to just jump into this after our break?
9:17
I'm so ready. I've been thinking about this
9:19
all day. Let's get to it.
9:21
I'm ready to dance. Well, we right back.
9:48
Elizabeth are you ready to rumble in the streets?
9:50
We have a lot of good costumes to talk about.
9:53
I am definitely ready to talk about the costumes.
9:57
You're not ready to fight. No.
9:58
Oh, look at this sweater. Do you think I want to get blood
10:02
on this? This white sweater?
10:04
No. Dang.
10:05
Who is talking about blood? All right.
10:07
Let's get into it. Watch the movie.
10:10
Excuse me. Yeah, you're right.
10:12
All right, so we open on some quick gang violence, like right
10:20
out of the bat. I thought it was so funny.
10:22
I hadn't seen West Side, Story in such a long time.
10:25
So seeing this new one. I just love watching the Jets.
10:28
Just kind of Like, strut around in the streets and like dance
10:32
fighting. I was like, okay, like oh my
10:34
gosh, this is so great. I was not prepared for this, and
10:39
I was like, what, what is happening?
10:44
I knew it was a musical. So, I assumed it would be, like,
10:47
dancing all the time. But I was just like, I don't
10:50
know, I wasn't I wasn't ready for the Jets moves.
10:54
I just think America needs more like dance, fighting in the
10:57
streets. Like I want to be walking around
10:59
Los Angeles just you know, like snapping our fingers and
11:03
skipping into the street. You know, it's just it was fun.
11:07
Do you think Ellie drivers are going to stop for those.
11:09
People are telling people are going to be did and they did in
11:13
New York city. So maybe they'll try it out
11:16
here. I don't know how many people get
11:18
hit by cars in New York City every single year.
11:20
This was not an accurate depiction.
11:23
Oh dear. Let's talk about the Jets.
11:29
Uh, these little Annoying punks. They do look great.
11:33
Yeah, they look dirty. But in a very cool like James
11:39
Dean way. Yeah, we have the leader of the
11:46
Jets. Riff played by Mike faced, man.
11:51
He is just like jeans. Under sure open T.
11:57
He doesn't care what anybody? He thinks of him, Paul Tazewell
12:01
said to the LA Times, the Jets, who claimed white European
12:06
Heritage are more comfortable and casual and how they dress.
12:10
They're the only group I dressed in Denim and jeans.
12:14
It's an icon of America. So he was really trying to make
12:18
them like the white stereotypical young adult,
12:23
teenager of the 1950s, who was just Getting into trouble for
12:30
getting into trouble sake, I love their costumes and I'm
12:35
gonna probably bring us up a hundred times.
12:37
But Paul Tazewell is like a master of color.
12:41
He really knows how to, you know, create story with color.
12:46
And I think he starts right away with the Jets, lots of Blues,
12:50
whites and Grays. As we can to the sharks are
12:53
going to see a different color tone.
12:55
He does the same thing with Hamilton.
12:56
So right away, I was like, wow. Like this is POD has with his
13:01
best. This is why he was nominated for
13:03
an Oscar. He just he's able to tell story
13:05
with color. It's amazing.
13:07
It really is. And again, you see that with the
13:10
sharks who are just it is Reds. It is yellows.
13:14
It is like earthy Browns, beautiful, and an interview with
13:20
Harper's Bazaar. Tazewell said I wanted for the
13:24
Sharks to be reflective of men that were holding jobs.
13:28
Though they definitely weren't wealthy.
13:31
They were dressing in the best that they had.
13:33
They were Taylor pants and shoes that were broken in, but more of
13:38
address type as opposed to a sneaker.
13:42
I was really trying to push them apart so that it was reflective
13:47
of the community that they were coming from alongside.
13:50
That was the color palette. I kept the sharks in a warmer
13:54
color palette, which felt premise which felt reminiscent
13:58
of where Come from and how they were recreating themselves in
14:01
New York. So what you said about the
14:04
colors is on point like coming from Puerto Rico.
14:09
They still want to reflect the warmth.
14:12
And, you know, the color that they would have had back home
14:15
here in Gray, dirty, New York, and he really pulls that through
14:23
and like he said, like he doesn't costume them really in.
14:28
He's at all. I feel I feel like Bernardo in
14:32
the beginning and maybe one or two other people are wearing
14:34
like a very very dark wash denim, but it does not come
14:38
across as denim at all and they definitely look far more
14:44
responsible and put together than the Jets do, right.
14:49
They have like a sophistication to them, a vibrancy to them and
14:53
like a warmth to the sharks that kind of makes you want to like
14:57
lean onto their side. Definitely feel a little bit
14:59
more comfortable with them. But yeah, I also David Alvarez
15:05
who plays Bernardo? Yeah.
15:08
Yeah, that's man, and anything before, but I was like, oh,
15:12
hello, sir. Hello.
15:13
Welcome to the broadcast. Yeah.
15:19
I just I'm a big fan to sharks. I love their costumes.
15:22
Just their costumes. Just make me feel warm, and
15:27
they're just Someone I want to be friends with but you know, I
15:32
don't want to be in a gang with them.
15:33
But I feel like they're fun to hang out with.
15:35
Oh, yeah, let's just move on to the well, actually.
15:40
We're not going to be want to dance party quite yet.
15:42
But did you see them dancing? At that dance?
15:44
Yes. All right, but the person I want
15:50
to hang out with is the legend the icon Rita Moreno who returns
15:56
to West Side Story this time as a new character.
15:58
Valentina. I just was talking to Elizabeth
16:01
before while we were in the break and she did not realize
16:05
that Rita Moreno starred an original West Side Story.
16:09
I did not know this. I didn't oh, it's such a amazing
16:13
think she played Anita. So we have pictures of her with
16:16
Ariana debose who now plays Anita.
16:18
It's just the sweetest most magical thing.
16:21
And I'm obsessed with it and I love her.
16:24
And she was so great in this film to.
16:25
She just brought such a like again.
16:28
Like a warmth to it. She did and I love her character
16:33
because she's kind of like she's looking after Tony kind of and
16:39
like trying to make sure he doesn't get into any more
16:42
trouble. But also just trying to, I feel
16:44
like protect her shop, didn't really succeed in the Tony
16:51
Department. Know, Tony is the architect of
16:54
his own unhappiness, though. But I love her because she she
17:02
is also Porto Rican but she says it's because she married a white
17:06
guy, a lot of the you know, white community no longer a see
17:12
her as like being Puerto Rican and you kind of see that
17:16
reflected in her wardrobe. It's a little it's a little more
17:19
Western not does not really reflective of her Heritage all
17:23
that much though. I feel like you do see it in her
17:25
floral top, which I thought was a really interesting move
17:30
because it's like clearly. She's been here for a very long
17:32
time. She's almost fully adapted to
17:36
American culture and it's like, it's not until she begins to
17:40
speak that. You realize she's kind of like
17:42
straddling these two worlds, right?
17:45
She gives off like this. Like, you know, that elementary
17:49
school teacher, that English teacher that you just love who,
17:52
you know, you're looking forward to their class because they're
17:54
just home. That's that's who Valentina is
17:56
in this film. And I just I'm so glad to see
17:59
her do this. It's been a long time since West
18:02
Side Story. Dare.
18:03
I say what was it like, 50, 60 years.
18:06
I should fact. Check that.
18:07
Hey, it's been a long time because I the movie came out,
18:12
not long after the play. I'm ready to dance.
18:16
I think we're all ready to dance.
18:19
And this is where you see Tazewell just being that Master
18:23
of color. Yeah.
18:25
It's so fun. Once again like you see the Jets
18:27
wearing their boots. Blue dark Blues Gray's whites.
18:32
But then the Sharks is just Reds and blacks and so vibrant.
18:37
So colorful. It's just this is such a
18:39
beautiful scene. I mean even for a second you put
18:42
the rivalry at kind of aside for little bit.
18:44
Uh, it's just so fun to watch and joyful, even though I feel
18:48
like for the characters, they're not experiencing Joy, but I was
18:54
no, they're definitely trying to have a good time.
18:57
I love And his girl matching it up.
19:01
Her dress is beautiful that that blue would like the little
19:04
tassel detail going down the front of her skirt and the
19:09
cutout up tops, a great silhouette for Jess.
19:12
It's beautiful. And then hit his jacket and sure
19:16
I was like I was going to wear you could like dress up this,
19:19
nice riff like good job. I mean credit, where credit's,
19:23
due the Jets really showed out for this dance, you know, I know
19:27
I was not expecting that. We're so dirty.
19:29
And first part of that. I was like, I didn't think they
19:32
owned a nice enough clothes to go to a dance.
19:36
Right? But we also get to see a lot
19:38
more of Tony and he's just been in jail for a year.
19:42
So his his clothes are much more, simple.
19:45
Like he's kind. He's kind of got the blue of the
19:48
Jets, but he's paired it with like, just these, like, tan
19:52
pants and he's just kind of like I shouldn't be here until, of
19:56
course. He sees Maria.
19:59
Tony's just trying to make it through today.
20:01
He is. And he does not succeed.
20:05
But I also love Bernardo and Anita barnardo's wearing this,
20:10
fantastic, like whitish tan suit with this like like rust colored
20:18
red t-shirt or button-down shirt and then a tie with like his
20:24
necklace that complements the, the suit I was like, ooh, Look
20:29
at you and then you have a needle with her like beautiful,
20:31
off-the-shoulder black dress, and then the red Petticoat that
20:37
just she shows every time she dances.
20:39
Oh my gosh. I am obsessed with every single
20:43
costume that Anita. Where's in this film.
20:45
I mean, just every single one. You like.
20:47
Wow, that's the one. That's the one, you know, like
20:51
so good and Ariana. Debose, like, she's so
20:54
beautiful. She wears them all.
20:56
So beautifully. She just It's such a great job
20:59
in this film. I mean, that's why she's
21:00
nominated for an Oscar for it. So, I mean, hey deserved.
21:06
She was my favorite part of this actually.
21:08
Oh, by far. I mean, Chic to me.
21:11
She carried this film. She was the only character
21:13
making good decisions. So for for, right?
21:17
And I'm just like, so happy for her.
21:19
I don't know if you know, but she came from Hamilton as like
21:21
one of the like Ensemble kind of like background dancing, you
21:25
know, singing characters, so that's great.
21:29
Like good for her. She's killing it right now.
21:30
She deserves this. She does.
21:34
Oh my goodness. That's awesome.
21:37
Another great actress was Rachel Ziegler as Maria.
21:42
And her first big scene is the dance scene where she wears that
21:47
iconic white dress with the red belt.
21:51
It's so good. I didn't realize how iconic it
21:54
was until I saw it again. All these years later.
21:57
I was like, that's the same dress.
21:58
Yes, it's so good. It's just I don't know something
22:02
about it. Just feels so right.
22:03
Of course, it's white. Because she's like, this kind of
22:06
like Angel. Just kind of like a lighting
22:08
onto the Dance Floor. She's very innocent and kind of
22:11
vulnerable. Yeah, and Paul Tazewell.
22:15
He put a lot of thought into this.
22:17
Look, he talked to Harper's Bazaar about it.
22:20
He said it was important to set Maria up as this young woman
22:25
coming from Puerto Rico, trying to find her.
22:28
Self and maturing into this new environment.
22:30
The white dress is reflective of a confirmation dress and then
22:35
also stylistically. It's something that her family
22:38
has decided is appropriate for her to wear with the addition of
22:43
the red bell. That was one of the changes from
22:46
the original Productions, when Anita gives the belt to Maria
22:51
for the dance at the gym. It's meant to be seen as a token
22:55
of pleasing her and wanting her to grow and mature.
22:58
Mature, it's like he really thought this out.
23:02
He really thought this out and it shows, right?
23:05
It's you know, it's very often that we see when people read do
23:08
films, they never seem to like match a lot of the costumes
23:12
like, you know detail by detail, but this is one of those like
23:15
special occasions where we were able, we were able to pull from
23:19
the older film and it like works.
23:21
So, well, it made it more iconic to me.
23:24
It really does. And it's like when he when you
23:26
look at them side-by-side, it's like Okay, they changed up the
23:30
neckline in the sleeves a little bit, and it's a different kind
23:33
of belt. But otherwise, it's like the
23:35
same dress. It's beautiful.
23:38
Yeah, I love it so much. If it brings me so much joy, it
23:42
was so perfect. And then, oh my gosh, the
23:46
dancing. I like, I wish I could have
23:49
found out like how many dresses he had to pull.
23:54
And like how many doubles and stuff he had to have.
23:56
Cuz these just This dance scene is insane.
24:01
Yeah, the limit does not exist. I cannot imagine how many hours
24:05
of like rehearsals and choreography went into this
24:08
film. Oh my gosh.
24:09
I know and just like the dresses, he chose and created
24:14
like they're perfect. Like they fit the dance moves
24:17
perfectly. Clearly everyone can move in
24:20
them without the slightest. Hesitation.
24:23
Like I just can't imagine what it took to like, figure all that
24:27
out. Yeah.
24:28
Anita's dress, just like it moves entire film.
24:32
There's just so much flow and it's just, it's so much fun to
24:36
watch. And I love actually looking at,
24:39
you know, this dancing from 2021 and comparing it to the original
24:43
film. I really feel like Paul has all
24:45
made some really great choices because the original film is
24:48
lots of like cool colors as red purple, blue kind of why it's
24:54
kind of like strawberry colors and I like, what they, what
24:58
Steve? And Spielberg did with this new
24:59
film, so much more because it just feels so much more warm and
25:02
vibrant. And it feels more.
25:04
I don't know. Just feels more realistic to me
25:07
to like this just feels it just, you know, it doesn't feel like a
25:10
stage musical anymore. Feels like this is real life,
25:13
West Side Story. That was a big thing for them,
25:17
making sure that it was believable and like if you went
25:21
back in time and this was actually taking place.
25:25
This is what the people would have been wearing.
25:27
So that was Realistic, it being realistic was very important to
25:33
Paul Tazewell and Steven Spielberg.
25:37
Well, I'm exhausted from all the dancing.
25:39
We just as I think Alicia we should a little break before
25:44
things get serious. Yeah.
25:45
I need some Gatorade, do some more stretching will be right
25:51
back. Elizabeth.
26:16
I read it danced around in the street, some more.
26:19
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
26:20
If it's with Anita, yeah. Well, you're in luck.
26:25
I am in luck. Yeah, cuz the next scene is I
26:28
want to be, In America, such a good.
26:31
That's a good. Good moment.
26:33
I was so excited for this scene. This is really why I want to
26:36
talk about this film. I want to see this scene.
26:39
This is one of those songs that I did not realize was from West
26:42
Side Story and I was like, I hear it start and I'm like, hold
26:47
on a second. I know this song and it's Anita
26:52
and all her friends and she's like Forget You Bernardo I want
26:57
to be here in. America that dancing around in
27:00
my bright colors, and living the life.
27:02
I want. This is to me like the best part
27:05
of the entire movie. If Steven Spielberg just
27:08
released like this, 5-10 minutes scene.
27:10
I would have been like, all right, that's all I needed.
27:13
You're like, great. Great was we have to talk about
27:18
Anita's yellow dress because this, to me, I mean, not to
27:22
foreshadow what our next segment later, but this costume to be
27:26
just carries his film. Brilliant full of detail, like
27:30
the pleading in this dress from like just within the like the
27:35
triangle cut out, in the front of her dress, like the movement
27:39
that gives her and Tazewell spoke about this scene to
27:44
Harper's Bazaar, because he was like, he loves the, you know,
27:48
iconic lilac dress from the original movie, but he said, I
27:53
really wanted a needed to be like the son to be the center of
27:57
that community. And to hold that kind of energy
28:00
and exuberance. That Was Then reflective of the
28:03
rest of the neighborhood. And it's like, yes, that is
28:07
exactly what she is, right. It's just, it's such a good like
28:12
obvious choice to me. I mean, I'm so glad, he went
28:15
this direction. It's just I needed.
28:17
Just give such a warmth and vibrancy.
28:19
And you know, just so welcoming, I said, this earlier, I just
28:22
feel like the original film was just likes kind of like dark and
28:25
cold. And this is what the film needed
28:27
was like this. Yellow and Red's that red
28:31
contrast in the Petticoat. Like, stop it.
28:34
It's just beautiful. So good.
28:37
When she went Bernardo Twirls her.
28:40
I'm like, yes, and I love even his little red accent.
28:45
Yeah. And his shirt at this point.
28:48
Like he really brought everything together in this one
28:52
seen his costume to like, that's my favorite male costume in this
28:57
film. Like what?
28:58
Just sing our two favorite costumes, just being put
29:00
together in this one segment and it's just, it's so great.
29:04
And the so many like extras in the background too.
29:08
But like, they're all costumed down to the gods.
29:11
You know, it's just this is such an incredible beautiful scene.
29:15
It's so good and the songs we stuck in my head probably for
29:18
the next two weeks. So I'm sorry Elizabeth.
29:20
That's okay. That's okay.
29:22
I can live with that. I can live with that.
29:24
So good song. I stopped singing and chanted.
29:26
So you see you just need something to replace.
29:28
If that but on the same day, Maria Antonia also go on their
29:36
one and only days. You can tell this was really
29:43
into this romance. I just wanted to touch on this a
29:48
little bit, because it's a very small part of the film.
29:52
But for Maria's outfit, Paul really put a lot of thought into
29:56
it. He said to Harper's Bazaar, when
29:58
we see Maria go on her date. With Tony.
30:01
The second outfit looks like a blouse.
30:03
She could have brought over from Puerto Rico.
30:06
It's reflective of a traditional peasant blouse and has And
30:10
stitching that's lovingly done. So we're just something that her
30:13
mother or grandmother might have made in Puerto Rico, but then
30:18
pairing that with a slim skirt. Makes it seem as if she's trying
30:22
to appear more mature and moving away from the white dress, that
30:26
is keeping her in the box. And then when she adds a little
30:31
red cardigan, she comes off as very intelligent, Latin woman
30:36
who has her own mind and is not afraid of expressing it.
30:40
Wow. Wow, that's a that's a brilliant
30:41
quote Wyoming. What else do you say?
30:44
I know. It's like when you see it, it's
30:49
like, you don't immediately think of that, but when you like
30:52
hear his explanation, it's like, oh my gosh, like that's that's
30:55
why she does see much older in this scene that like, that's
31:00
why, right? It's actually kind of funny
31:03
because I feel like Maria aged up a little bit.
31:06
She was more sophisticated, but in Tony, he kind of like age
31:09
down a little bit. And what he was wearing key?
31:11
Yeah, it's almost like he kind of like, you know lost his cool
31:15
a little bit and now he's like this kind of school kid possibly
31:19
teenager. We don't know.
31:21
Maria is the only person we know for sure is a teenager because
31:24
she says she's 18. All right, let's get to another
31:31
musical number though. We have the I feel pretty scene
31:34
and that's just such a fun scene.
31:36
This was such a fun scene when they're cleaning the Giant
31:40
Store. I love how he continues to bring
31:43
that vibrancy even into their cleaning uniforms the like
31:49
bright red aprons over there very colorful clothing and it
31:54
just, it gives the Holstein a sense of like fun and Whimsy as
31:58
she's like going through and dressing herself up in the
32:00
store, right? It's such a good point.
32:02
I'm glad you said that because when I think of like, you know,
32:05
I made type of costume. It's usually like pretty muted
32:09
like maybe like a light. Blue a gray, kind of boring and,
32:13
you know, but like this it's just you kind of forgot for
32:17
something like oh this looks fun.
32:18
Like I want to be there to, you know, clean just like this.
32:23
Vibrancy is just like so positive and uplifting.
32:27
It's just it makes you feel something that's like the beauty
32:30
of costume design. It really is.
32:32
And it's the upper you need, right before, everything falls
32:36
apart, riff dies, Tony kills burn.
32:40
Nardo for killing riff Maria. Still in love with him for some
32:45
reason and then I need allies that that Maria's dance.
32:52
So Tony is like murder me to and gets murdered even though Maria
32:58
is not dead and I'm Aurelia. Almost murder is everybody?
33:02
And then it just ends. Tell us how you really feel.
33:12
Yeah, for the movie goes into a dark path, very quickly.
33:18
There's lots of killings lots of violence that I kind of forgot
33:23
about honestly and then the film just kind of ended and I
33:26
realized that there wasn't a happy ending to this film.
33:29
It really kind of caught me off-guard.
33:31
I guess I should have prepared myself for that.
33:34
But at least she made it out alive of for this version,
33:39
right? Right.
33:40
It was just like what's going on?
33:42
Why why do we have to do this? Why do we go kill each other?
33:46
But I will say though like that Rumble scene really came
33:49
together beautifully, the costumes that Paul put together.
33:52
We're just, you know, felt very real and it just kind of seemed
33:57
like the progression of these characters, like slowly falling
33:59
apart and our costumes, becoming more dark and gloomy with the
34:04
turn of the plot. Yeah.
34:06
I thought Paul did masterfully masterfully.
34:10
Supposedly. Yes.
34:12
Yes. He did especially with Anita.
34:14
She goes from her bright bright colors to this morning, black
34:20
and purple. And that just like reflects her
34:24
grief and anger like she's not hopeful anymore because it
34:29
became like unrecognizable like pretty quickly.
34:32
Yes, and then Maria while she stood at she's like, I'm still
34:37
going to be with my man and And she starts the day off.
34:42
Are the night off, I guess. And this very beautiful, like
34:46
pink little nightgown. And then I love this, final blue
34:51
silk dress, she wears, because when you see her coming to Tony
34:56
with her luggage, she looks so hopeful.
34:59
She's like ready for the future. And then when Tony dies, it's
35:03
like immediately turned into a Mourning dress.
35:07
Yeah, like it just it takes on those two different roles.
35:10
You to flee? Yeah, that's such a cool note
35:13
and just like seeing her like run down the street in that
35:15
dress up like the briefcase. It's like such a like you said
35:19
kind of like positive hopeful silhouette that like took me off
35:23
guard for a second. I was like wait what she have so
35:25
happy about as confused and you know things fell apart running
35:29
off with Tony for some reason. Yeah.
35:32
I just I don't know like I'm sorry you murder my brother.
35:35
I don't care how much I love you.
35:36
Things are over. Well, they didn't even like have
35:39
like a Solid conversation about it.
35:42
That's what I was caught off guard by like when he got out of
35:45
bed for a second and I was like, that doesn't look like his
35:48
bedroom. And then she said, I thought
35:50
like what? Whoa.
35:51
What? No, I mean, I feel like, at some
35:54
point, they must have had a conversation about it again,
35:58
assume self. But like, I'm sorry, you bet.
36:01
I've had people break up with me for less than that.
36:13
Five story a bit of a shorter episode today, but, you know,
36:20
just it was a longer films and longer films are a little bit
36:24
harder for us, to break down. So, we just really wanted to
36:26
focus on the main costumes. What was important?
36:30
Yeah. It's an almost three-hour movie.
36:32
Like, if you want to watch this, it is on Disney plus just be
36:36
prepared. It is a long movie.
36:39
It's a commitment. Want to watch this movie?
36:42
Yeah, let's talk about for a little bit before we get into
36:45
one costume, rule them all. Yeah, I'll just read this one,
36:48
quote before we finish off. But Paul Tazewell kind of
36:53
distilled his thoughts and feelings about this wardrobe
36:57
very well in Harper's Bazaar. So, I just want to share that.
37:00
He said, that's the thing. I love about being a costume
37:04
designer. I'm designing to create a
37:06
narrative that is unspoken and I'm giving Clues to the audience
37:10
in a in subtle ways or Very bold ways to give these characters
37:15
definition so that it will all feel authentic.
37:18
I hope it all feels true and plausible for the communities,
37:23
whose story, we are telling, I also hope it touches people's
37:27
hearts and that people remember the choices that I made and that
37:31
this new version of West Side Story will remain in their heads
37:36
that the new Anita and the new Maria will carry forward with
37:40
this new way that were presented.
37:42
Renting the story. That's actually beautiful,
37:45
quote, and that's a perfect way to end.
37:47
You know, we're at that's a very awesome quote.
37:50
It's beautiful, and he did such beautiful work.
37:54
I'm really happy. He's nominated for an Oscar this
37:59
year. He truly deserves it.
38:01
Yeah, I couldn't agree more. I I talk about this film.
38:08
I do feel like it was definitely a little too long especially
38:11
concerned away. It Did I was like, oh, well, we
38:15
worked out a lot of details for no reason, but I also didn't
38:20
like hate it though, either. Like I liked the film.
38:22
I didn't love it. I just feel like as a little
38:24
longer. Yeah, but you know, some
38:27
standout style was Ariana Dubose.
38:29
Like she deserves this nomination.
38:31
She carried his film. The actress who plays Maria.
38:35
She was also brilliant. He was brilliant.
38:38
The acting for the was brilliant.
38:40
I questioned some of the acts. Scents, especially for the new,
38:44
your, the, the Jets. I was like, okay, but I agree
38:48
with you. I had a lot of problems with how
38:51
long it was, and the pacing of it was very, it was very strange
38:55
to me, aside from that. It was fantastic.
39:00
I'm mostly I just have personal issues with the story of Romeo
39:03
and Juliet. That's a personal problem.
39:07
Yeah, you know, like, for me, like production designer,
39:12
Costume design wise directing the casting.
39:16
It was all great for me. I guess what you're getting to
39:19
the heart of for me is why I have an issue with this film.
39:22
A little bit is like the Romeo and Juliet story which you know
39:26
is built this great production over all these years which I
39:29
respect and I do like it but like it really this film for me
39:35
kind of suffered from the casting of Tony, which we're not
39:38
going to get into. Yeah.
39:40
It was really hard for me to like get my My head around this
39:43
romance, it just to me, it didn't sit well with me, and
39:47
that's not to the fault of everyone else in this film.
39:50
No. No, that's the main problem.
39:53
So, I've always seen Romeo and Juliet not as a story of
39:57
star-crossed lovers, but as a cautionary tale right, when you
40:01
think of like, you know, it was written and / originally
40:05
produced an Elizabeth beef in England.
40:07
Where like, you know, if you didn't listen to your parents
40:10
and marry who you were told to, There were serious consequences
40:17
like I I mean, I get why people are like, oh it's so beautiful.
40:21
Like they loved each other even though their parents told them,
40:24
they could never be together because our families hated each
40:27
other. And it's like this whole story
40:29
takes place over Max 72 hours. So a they were never in love.
40:35
They were infatuated with each other, like that's different and
40:41
to I just I think of it was a story of star-crossed lovers.
40:46
It would have ended a little bit happier because he had happy
40:49
ending story', where the people who should not have fallen in
40:53
love fell in love and get a happy ending.
40:55
So in my opinion Romeo and Juliet is a cautionary tale, not
41:01
a love story. So what you're saying is William
41:03
Shakespeare don't show your face around at this podcast right now
41:07
because we're gonna get you the parking lot, exactly.
41:11
And I will One thing I do like about adapting that into West
41:17
Side story'. The Star-Crossed lover thing
41:20
makes a lot more sense when put into the context of West Side
41:24
Story, right? I actually like the story more
41:29
for West Side Story. I just wish again.
41:32
They taken a little bit more time to develop that romance
41:35
because I like even the original play takes a little bit more
41:37
time to develop that romance. Yeah, and I felt like they had
41:42
this The pacing was weird for me.
41:47
But all in all before again to One, customer them all.
41:50
I'm glad we watched it meets. One who is nominated deserves
41:53
it, they cast the cast, except one exception was brilliant.
41:58
And yes, I'm very happy that we watched us still and let's get
42:03
into one costume to rule them all.
42:05
Yeah, the one costume to rule them all.
42:15
Spencer was your choice. Elizabeth.
42:19
What was your choice? I think we have the same Choice.
42:22
Answer is Anita's yellow dress. That is just.
42:27
Yes, that costume carried this entire film.
42:30
As soon as I saw it. I basically, like stopped taking
42:33
tally of costumes, like, oh, well, that's the one that just
42:37
costume. Is just vibrant.
42:38
Yeah. It just it just showed like the
42:41
upgrade to It's story that happened here is just to me.
42:44
It says everything about the film.
42:47
Why we love West Side Story. It's just, you know, I think
42:50
dress is a museum piece. It is, it is it not only
42:54
communicates everything that Paul has well was trying to
42:57
communicate but it really showcases his skills and his
43:01
knowledge of what a dancer needs, how something needs to be
43:05
constructed to dance, how it fits into the story, how it's
43:09
going to look on the actress. Like it really showcases his
43:15
talent, right? Because there's such a we didn't
43:18
really talk about this a lot. But there's such a different
43:20
perspective when costuming for something that requires so much
43:23
Movement, Like a musical, like Hamilton or like, you know, a
43:28
production like West Side Story. It just takes so much more
43:31
thought and dedication and craftsmanship.
43:34
And Paul Tazewell is one of the Masters of this type of costume
43:38
designing, and I'm so excited to see what he does.
43:41
Next. I'm so excited too.
43:43
And like you, I feel like we're going to see this dress a lot
43:47
recreated, and it's going to look significantly different
43:51
because it's going to be constructed much more simply
43:55
than what he had to make. And I'm like, I just find that
43:58
fascinating. Yeah, it's brilliant.
44:01
And that is West Side Story. Elizabeth Elizabeth.
44:07
This has been fun, but we witness a lot of crime on these
44:10
streets. You know what?
44:11
I think we should. Watch next.
44:13
What should we watch? Spencer?
44:16
We need to hit. We need to head to the theaters.
44:19
I watched the new Batman with Robert Pattinson and Zoe
44:22
Kravitz. The time has finally.
44:26
Come. I am so pumped for this.
44:28
I can't wait, everybody. Get your, get your Batman mask.
44:33
Get your cat ears and join us next time.
44:36
Yes. I'm so excited.
44:38
Oh, and don't forget to, please support us on.
44:42
Tran. We have some great bonus
44:44
episodes happening there. We just released our Oscars
44:47
episode actually and by the time this comes out, we might have or
44:52
it's coming up our Lord of the Rings after dark special for the
44:55
Fellowship of the Ring. It's a fun one, lots of tequila
44:59
and Orcs happening. Don't forget to head to our
45:02
merch store. Also, and get yourself the art
45:04
of costume. Blogcast sweatshirt or t-shirts
45:07
Minds on its way. I'm so excited to wear it with
45:10
every single outfit of every Single day.
45:13
I'm so excited. If you can't support us
45:16
financially. That is fine.
45:18
That is understandable. If you could give us a little
45:21
like and follow wherever you listen and on Instagram, we
45:25
would very much appreciate it. And if you really loved us, if
45:29
you could leave us a little five-star text review on Apple
45:31
podcast, that would be amazing. Everybody.
45:35
Have a fantastic week by here. Costume blogcast is hosted and
45:45
produced by Elizabeth Joy, glass, and Spencer Williams.
45:48
Our audio engineering and editing is done by Dan White.
45:53
Follow us on Instagram, at the art of costume pod or visit the
45:58
art of costume blogcast.com. For all blogcast updates.
46:02
If you want to support the show, go to the art of costume.com pod
46:07
store or you can head over to Lash the art of costume.
46:13
For some bonus content for more costume.
46:16
Reviews deep, Dives and interviews, head over to the art
46:21
of costume.com a Blog dedicated to highlighting the best in
46:25
costume design. Wait, what are we watching next
46:37
week? Is it Batman?
46:40
Batman? Because I had a good transition.
46:44
Let me bring that up. I think it's Batman.
46:48
I am the Batman Batman. Why do you wanna kill me Joker?
46:57
Yeah, it's Batman. All right.